The 2026 International Sanrokan Festival

Maraming salamat sa ating mga sponsors! Your generous support made the 2026 International Sanrokan Festival a success!

Gov. Trina Alejandra Firmalo-Fabic
Governor, Provincial Government of Romblon

Hon. Eleandro Jesus F. Madrona
Congressman, Lone District of Romblon

Hon. Aaron James C. Madrona
Mayor, Municipality of San Agustin

Hon. Armando Gutierrez
Vice Governor, Provincial Government of Romblon

Hon. Roger Q. Fodra
Mayor, Municipality of Odiongan

Odiongan Tourism Office
Municipality of Odiongan

Hon. Lisette M. Arboleda
Mayor, Municipality of Looc

Hon. Butchoy Arevalo
Vice Mayor, Municipality of Odiongan

Hon. Ricmel S. Falqueza
Sangguiniang Panlalawigan

Zytrus Galindez
ZY Trading

Edren Faderon
Jollibee Odiongan
CARA Gift Shop
Threads and Prints
Cyril F. Dela Cruz
Romblon State University
Bayside Fitness
Ashley's Bakeshop
Noel Cruz of PCSO
Diven Fos Dimaala
Isiah Group of Companies

Official Expression of Gratitude
on Behalf of the Organizing Committee and Romblon State University
2026 International Sanrokan Festival

Theme: Diversity of Cultural Expression through Inclusive Governance and Education
March 13–15, 2026 | Romblon State University

It has been a profound privilege and honor for Romblon State University to host the 2026 International Sanrokan Festival, a landmark convergence commemorating International Mother Language Day and the fifth year of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032).

In the spirit of sanrokan—the Romblomanon tradition of communal sharing, generosity, and mutual support—the 2026 International Sanrokan Festival served as a vital platform for advancing scholarly discourse, cultural preservation, and inclusive policy development.

We extend our deepest appreciation to the following contributors whose invaluable support and participation ensured the intellectual rigor, logistical excellence, and inclusive spirit of the festival:

To Governor Trina Firmalo-Fabic of the Province of Romblon and Congressman Budoy Madrona of the Lone District of Romblon, whose steadfast support amplified the festival’s reach and reinforced the vital linkage between local governance, legislative advocacy, and educational advancement;

To our LGU sponsors who assisted in providing resources to address the needs of our participants, especially to Mayor Roger "Toto" Fodra Jr. and the Odiongan Tourism Office for being supportive through the Odiongan Lakbay Aral;

To President Merian P. Catajay Mani of Romblon State University, whose visionary leadership and gracious hospitality opened institutional doors to representatives from State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), partner higher education institutions, and allied organizations. Your stewardship was instrumental in facilitating this academic and cultural convergence;

To Talaytayan MLE Inc., under the leadership of Tony Igcalinos and Prof. Ricardo Ma. Nolasco, for their pioneering advocacy in mother tongue-based multilingual education and their substantive contributions to the festival’s deliberations on language policy, linguistic rights, and culturally responsive pedagogy;

To partner higher education institutions, State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), and academic networks—including Asi Studies Center for Culture and the Arts (ASCCA)—for co-facilitating knowledge exchange, co-presenting research, and fostering cross-institutional dialogues that advanced inclusive governance and multilingual education frameworks;

To the plenary speakers and presenters, whose insightful keynote addresses and research papers provided nuanced perspectives on inclusivity, mother tongue-based multilingual education (MTB-MLE), and strategies for elevating educational quality across diverse ethnolinguistic contexts;

To all participants who traveled by air, land, and sea to convene in Romblon: your willingness to share rigorous research findings, empirical studies, and innovative pedagogical approaches through paper presentations and panel discussions constituted the intellectual core of this event and inspired continued cross-institutional collaboration;

To our generous sponsors and partners, who contributed both in-kind and financial resources, your investment enabled the elevation of scholarly standards, the provision of equitable access, and the creation of a conducive environment for meaningful knowledge exchange; and

To the members of the technical working committee, whose planning, coordination, and collaborative efforts ensured the ex*****on of this celebration: your collective efforts reflected the traditional Romblonon practice of communal sharing and hospitality, now extended to the sharing of ideas and knowledge.

We value your patience for any unforeseen delays or adjustments during the preparations and proceedings of this multi-faceted event.

Your understanding and flexibility allowed us to maintain the smooth flow of scholarly engagement and cultural celebration that defined the festival.

We hope you enjoyed the rich array of plenary sessions, research presentations, interactive workshops, and immersive cultural experiences that our institution has offered.

Muli, maramong salamt nak gador sa inrong tanan!
(Thank very much to all of you!)

Romblon State University
Organizing Committee
2026 International Sanrokan Festival

𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐎𝐖 | 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤

Participants of the International Sanrokan Festival 2026 are currently listening to Mr. Rodne R. Galicha of Bayay Sibuyan Inc. and Aksyon Klima Pilipinas, who is delivering a plenary talk titled “Katumbalikwasan: From Tumba to Balikwas: Rethinking Resilience from the Philippines.”

The session highlights community-driven perspectives on resilience, emphasizing how Filipino communities rise, recover, and transform in the face of environmental and climate challenges.

𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐎𝐖 | 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤

Participants of the International Sanrokan Festival 2026 are currently attending a plenary session featuring Dr. Heidi Barcelo-Macahilig of Philippine Normal University, who is joining the conference through an online platform.

In her presentation titled “Language, Learning, and Equity: Rethinking Language-in-Education Policy in the Philippines,” Dr. Barcelo-Macahilig discusses key issues and policy directions in language-in-education, highlighting the importance of equitable and inclusive approaches that support diverse learners across the country.

𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐎𝐖 | 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤

Participants of the International Sanrokan Festival 2026 are currently attending a plenary session with Dr. Maria Mercedes Arzadon of 170+ Talaytayan MLE, Inc., who is delivering a talk titled “MTB-MLE in the Philippines: Gains, Setbacks, and Strategies for Survivance.”

The session examines the progress and challenges of Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education in the Philippines, while highlighting strategies to sustain and strengthen language-inclusive education for diverse Filipino learners.

𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐎𝐖 | 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤

Participants of the International Sanrokan Festival 2026 are currently attending a plenary session featuring Dr. Kirk Person of SIL Global, who is presenting virtually on “MLE Policies and Trends at the Regional and International Levels.”

The session explores current developments and global perspectives on Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education, highlighting policy directions and best practices that support inclusive and effective learning in multilingual communities.

𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐎𝐖: The Philippine Bible Society is currently leading the workshop “Ang Bible: Pinoy Version and Other Good Governance Practices” at the RSU Audio Visual Room.

The session highlights the role of faith-based initiatives in promoting ethical leadership, community engagement, and good governance.

𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐎𝐖: Participants gather at the RSU QA Conference Hall for the workshop “Translanguaging and Code-Mixing: The Kabacan Phenomenon,” facilitated by representatives from the University of Southern Mindanao.

The session explores linguistic practices in multilingual communities and how translanguaging shapes communication and learning in diverse cultural contexts.

𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐎𝐖: An engaging workshop session is underway at the RSU Audio Visual Room featuring Tony Igcalinos of 170+ Talaytayan MLE Inc. and Jordan D. Solatorio of Department of Education – Romblon.

Participants are exploring strategies and experiences in strengthening Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education as part of the ongoing activities of the 2026 International Sanrokan Festival.